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W. A. 8; F. E. TURNER. MEANS FOR RAISING SUNKEN VBSSELS.

No. 531,485. -Pa'emted Deo. 25, 1894.'

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MEANS FOR RAISING SUNKBN VESSELS.

'Patented Dec. 25,1894.

'A TTORNEYS.

' STATES PATENT ERICE.;

WILLIAM A. TURNER AND ERED E. TURNER, or MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

.MEANS Fon RAlslNc suNKl-:N vEssELs.

SPECIFICATION forming, part of Letters Patent No. 531,485, dated December 25, 1894. y

" Application fired July 26,1893.

.To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Beit known that we, WILLIAM A. TURNER and FRED E. TURNER, of Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain `new and Improved Means for Raising Sunkenv Vessels, of `which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide certain new and improved means for raising sunken vessels, in a very short time and at a comparatively low cost.

The invention is embodied in the inflatable receptacle provided with a valve inlet of peculiar construction, as hereinafter described.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

`vation of the same.

Figure l is aside elevation of the improvement with parts in section. Fig.,2 is a plan view of the improvement as applied on the deck of the slinken vessel. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the improvement as arranged on the outside cfa sunken vessel. Fig. 4 is a like viewof the improvement, showing it applied to the outside of a large sunken vessel. Fig. 5 is an end view of one of thevalve casings for the receptacle. Fig. 6 is a sectional side ele- Fig. 7 is aside elevation of the connecting pipe for the said valve. Fig. 8 is an end view of the Same. Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the valve inlet on the line 9 9 of Fig. l. Fig. l0 is a side elevation, showing the connection of the cords for forming a netting for the receptacle; and Fig. 1l is an enlarged side elevation of part of the chain. Fig. 12 (Sheet 2) is a detail section of one of the valve attachments of the inflatable yadapted to be fastened t0 receptacle.

The improved means for raising sunken vessels consists of a series of receptacles A, the vessel, either on the deck, as shown in Fig. 2, or on the outside thereof, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

The receptacle A is preferably made of cotton, hemp or linen canvas and a compound of gum rubber, the compound being calendered or otherwise attached to the canvas in thin sheets, and then the fabric thus produced is 5o formed into a receptacle of any desired shape,

preferably however, cylindrical, as illustrated Serial No. 481,492. (No model.)

in the drawings, with the contracted ends A for the inlet and egress of the air. The receptacle A is inclosed by an exterior netting B, provided with extension ropes C adapted to be attached to a chain D or other means fastened to the vessel E to be raised, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4.

The chain D is passed around the outside of the vessel, and has its ends connected with each other by a suitable devils claw D', nearl which is arranged a second hook D2 adapted to be hooked on the rudder of the vessel, or on the bow of the same, to securely hold the chain in place. See Figs. 3 and 4.

In each contracted end A 0f each receptacle A is fitted an air inlet provided with a bell-shaped casing F formed in its base with la semi-circular opening F adapted to register with a corresponding opening H formed in a pipe H fitted into the neck of the bellshaped casing F. On the outside of the casing F is formed an annular flange F2, see Fig. 6, over which passes part of the contracted end A of the receptacle, and on this part passes a clamp G preferably made of two hinged members connected with each other at their free ends by a screw, as is illustrated in Fig. 9, so as to securely clamp the casings F in place in the ends A of the receptacle A.

The pipe, H, is removably and adj ustably fitted in the bell-shaped casing, F, and, its outer end being screw-threaded, a suitable screw coupling (not shown) may be attached to it for the purpose of temporarily connecting a rope with it, for moving the receptacle 4from the tug-boat down to the. sunken vessel,

or an air pipe may be screwed on the pipe, H, to inflate the receptacle; or as shown in Fig. l, the pipe, H, may be connected by a coupling I -with the similar projecting end-of the pipe belonging to another receptacle A, so as to connect two such receptacles with each other. Now, it will be seen that when the pipe H is turned half way round in one direction, its semi-circular opening, H', will register with the corresponding opening, F in the casing, F, and, when turned in the opposite direction, the said openings H and F will be out of register; and thus the passage to` the receptacle, A, is opened or closed for admission or escape of air, as the case may IOO be. As shown in Fig. l2, the pipe, II, is turned so as to close the aforesaid openings II' and F.

lVhen the receptacle is to be applied on a sunken vessel, as illustrated in Fig. 3, then the outer ends of the pipes I-I, at the ends A of the receptacle A, are connected with a rope J, leading from the tug K to and around a sheave J attached to the chain D, or to any part of the sunken vessel E, so that when the rope is pulled the receptacle is moved downward through the Water from the tug K to the sunken vessel. The diver located at the sunken vessel then fastens the ropes C to the chain D, oi' to any other suitable part of the sunken vessel. Vhen this has been done, the receptacle is to be inflated, and for this purpose the end of an air pipe L is connected with the outer end of one of the end pipes Il, as illustrated in Fig. 3, after which air is pumped through the said pipeL from the tug K into the receptable A, to iniiate the saine. This operation is repeated for each receptacle to be attached to the Vessel, until finally sufficient air pressure is obtained by numerous receptacles to raise the vessel, it being understood that the said in flated receptacles have a tendency to rise to the surface of the water.

As illustrated in Fig. 10, the single strands B'and B2 of the netting B are connected with each other crosswise, and are fastened in place at the crossing by separate short strings B3, as is plainly shown in the said Fig. l0.

Instead of forming the receptacles A with two valve 4ends A', as shown in Fig. 1, and described above, we may provide the said receptacles with only one valve end, but in this case we prefer to shape the receptacle like a balloon, as indicated at the ends of Fig. 4f.

It is understood that when the rope J is connected with the valve inlets A at the pipes H, as above described, then the said pipes Il are in such a position as to have their apertures H out of register with the air pump L, after which the pipe is sufficiently turned to register the aperture Il with the aperture F', to permit air to pass into the interior of the receptacle A. In a like manner, after the receptacle has been filled, the pipe II is turned to move its aperture Il out of register with the opening F to close the end of the vessel, and then the air pipe L is disconnected.

Having thus fully described our invention, We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. As a means for raising sunken vessels, an infiatable receptacle having a valve inlet comprising a casing provided with an eccentrically located opening in its inner end, and a pipe fitted and adapted to turn in said casing, and open at its outer end, and having an eccentric opening in its inner ond, as shown "and described, whereby the circumferential adjustment of the pipe opens or closes the air passage to said receptacle, as specified.

2. A means for raising sunken vessels, consisting of an inflatable receptacle having a valve inlet comprising a bell-shaped casing formed in its base with an opening, a clamp for fastening the said casing to the end of the said receptacle, and a pipe mounted to turn in the said casing and formed at its inner end with an opening adapted to register with the opening in the base of the said casing, substantially as shown and described.

WILLIAM A. TURNER. FRED E. TURNER.

Vtfitnesses:

W. H. MASON, CHAs. ANDERSON. 

